Police: High school custodian/coach touched girls' buttocks 'for the thrill'

CAMAS, Wash. (KPTV) -- A Camas High School custodian/coach would walk back and forth in the crowded main commons area as students filed through and inappropriately touch girls on their buttocks "for the thrill," according to court documents.

Portland TV station KPTV said Robbyn Mattson, 58, who was also the school's softball coach, made his first court appearance Monday on eight counts of third-degree child molestation, five counts of second-degree sexual misconduct and four counts of fourth-degree assault with sexual motivation.

KPTV said that according to a declaration of probable cause, students at Camas High School began reporting the janitor had been touching girls' buttocks.

Administrators reviewed surveillance video that showed Mattson leave his custodian closet between second and third periods, and again between fifth and sixth periods, and walk through the crowded main commons area, court documents state.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Mattson walked back and forth through the crowd and could clearly be seen reaching out and touching girls on their backsides. Some students would look back, while others didn't seem to notice.

One student told investigators she felt something graze her buttocks, so she turned around and Mattson said he was sorry, court documents state.

After walking through the main commons area, Mattson was seen on surveillance video returning to his custodian closet, where he would stay for approximately an hour, according to court documents.

Administrators told police Mattson did not clean that area of the building and had no valid reason for being there.

A probable cause affidavit states Mattson was interviewed at his home by detectives and initially said he was confused about why he had been placed on administrative leave and denied touching anyone inappropriately.

However, court documents state after being shown surveillance images, he admitted touching the girls "for the thrill and getting away with something." He stated it was not for sexual motivation.

Mattson denied touching any male students, according to court documents, and said he never touched the girls anywhere except the buttocks. Police believe there were at least 17 victims in the past month.